Mandevilla plant named ‘PATMANWHI2’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Mandevilla  plant named ‘PATMANWHI2’ which is characterized by a freely branching growth habit with a relatively short plant height, large flowers, white flowers that do not fade to yellow-green when exposed to cooler temperatures, flowers with a dark yellow inner floral tube, as well as the stability of these characteristics from generation to generation.

Latin name of the genus and species: The Latin name of the genus and species of the novel variety disclosed herein is Mandevilla sanderi (Hemsl.) Woodson.

Variety denomination: The inventive variety of Mandevilla disclosed herein has been given the variety denomination ‘PATMANWHI2’.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to the Community Plant Variety Rights application number 2020/1112, filed Apr. 23, 2020, which is herein incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Parentage: The new plant originated as a seedling selection from the open pollination of a plurality of cultivated Mandevilla sanderi ‘Pearl’ plants (not patented), the seed parent, and unnamed Mandevilla sanderi plants (not patented) in the spring of 2017. The true pollen parent is unknown. Seed was collected from the ‘Pearl’ plants and germinated at a greenhouse in Klazienaveen, The Netherlands. The resulting seedlings were grown to maturity and observed for unique characteristics. In March of 2018, the claimed plant was observed to exhibit a unique flower color relative to the other seedlings from said cross of 2017 and was selected for commercialization.

Asexual Reproduction: Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar ‘PATMANWHI2’, by way of softwood stem cuttings, was first initiated in March of 2018 in Klazienaveen, The Netherlands. Through more than 6 subsequent generations, the unique features of this cultivar have proven to be stable and true to type.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘PATMANWHI2’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature, day length, and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype. The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘PATMANWHI2’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘PATMANWHI2’ as a new and distinct Mandevilla cultivar:

-   -   1. Mandevilla ‘PATMANWHI2’ exhibits a freely branching growth         habit; and     -   2. Mandevilla ‘PATMANWHI2’ exhibits a relatively short plant         height; and     -   3. Mandevilla ‘PATMANWHI2’ exhibits large flowers relative to         the plant size; and     -   4. Mandevilla ‘PATMANWHI2’ exhibits flowers white flowers which         do not become suffused with yellow-green when exposed to cooler         temperatures; and     -   5. Mandevilla ‘PATMANWHI2’ exhibits a dark yellow inner floral         tube.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 illustrates, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color photographs of this type, an exemplary 12 month old ‘PATMANWHI2’ plant in a 19 cm nursery pot, grown in a greenhouse in Klazienaveen, The Netherlands.

FIG. 2 illustrates, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color photographs of this type, the mature foliage of ‘PATMANWHI2’.

FIG. 3 illustrates, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color photographs of this type, an exemplary flower of ‘PATMANWHI2’.

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following observations and measurements were made in April of 2021 and describe averages from a sample set of six specimens of 12 month-old ‘PATMANWHI2’ plants grown in 19 cm nursery pots grown in a greenhouse in Klazienaveen, The Netherlands. Plants were produced using conventional greenhouse production protocols for Mandevilla which consisted of regular overhead and ebb and flood irrigation and fertigation applications. Pest or disease control measures were utilized in production as required. Plants were produced with full sun exposure and no photoperiodic treatments or artificial light was given to the plants.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that certain characteristics will vary with older or, conversely, with younger plants. ‘PATMANWHI2’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. Where dimensions, sizes, colors and other characteristics are given, it is to be understood that such characteristics are approximations or averages set forth as accurately as practicable. The phenotype of the variety may differ from the descriptions set forth herein with variations in environmental, climactic and cultural conditions. Color notations are based on The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, The Royal Horticultural Society, London, 2015 (sixth edition).

A botanical description of ‘PATMANWHI2’ and comparisons with the parents and most similar commercial variety of Mandevilla are provided below.

-   Plant description:     -   -   Growth habit.—Vining perennial; broad upright.         -   Plant shape.—Ovate to obovate to broad obovate.         -   Average height from base to top of foliage.—56.0 cm.         -   Average height from base to top of the floral plane.—36.5             cm.         -   Average width.—33.2 cm.         -   Growth rate.—Moderately fast.         -   Plant vigor.—Moderately vigorous.         -   Propagation method.—Softwood stem cuttings; rooting is in             initiated in approximately 21 days, with a fully rooted             cutting in approximately 6 weeks, when grown in a greenhouse             with an ambient average temperature of 28 to 30 degrees             Celsius.         -   Time to produce a finished plant.—Approximately 9 to 12             months is required to produce a fully rooted and marketable             19 cm plant when grown under greenhouse conditions.         -   Disease and pest resistance or susceptibility.—Plants have             not been observed to be susceptible or resistant to             pathogens and pests common to Mandevilla sanderi.         -   Environmental tolerances.—Adapt to at least USDA Zones 10             and 12, and temperatures ranging from at least 5 degrees to             40 degrees Celsius; moderate tolerance to rain; low to             moderate tolerance to wind; low tolerance to drought. -   Root system:     -   -   General.—Freely branching; moderately dense rooting.         -   Texture.—Fibrous.         -   Color.—Greyed-orange, nearest to in between RHS 164A and             165B. -   Stem:     -   -   Branching habit.—Basally branching main stem; freely             branching with vining lateral branches which are void of             tendrils or anchoring roots. Stems and branches exude a             milky exudate when damaged.         -   Number of main stems per plant.—7.         -   Number of lateral branches per plant.—18.         -   Aspect.—Rounded.         -   Length of lateral branches.—27.3 cm.         -   Diameter of lateral branches.—0.25 cm at the widest point.         -   Internode length on lateral branches.—5.0 cm.         -   Attitude.—Upright; angle is approximately 30 degrees from             vertical.         -   Strength.—Strong.         -   Texture and luster.—Glabrous and moderately glossy.         -   Color, juvenile.—Yellow-green, nearest to RHS 144B.         -   Color, mature.—Yellow-green, nearest to a mixture of RHS             146B and 146C.         -   Color at internodes.—Yellow-green, nearest to a mixture of             RHS 146B and 146C.         -   Color of bark on main stems.—Greyed-brown, nearest to a             mixture of RHS 199A and 199B. -   Foliage:     -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite.         -   Division.—Simple.         -   Quantity.—Average of 12 leaves per lateral branch.         -   Lamina.—Dimensions — 5.7 cm long and 3.4 cm wide, on             average. Shape — Broad obovate to broad elliptic. Aspect —             Flat to very slightly carinate. Apex — Short apiculate. Base             — Rounded to obtuse. Margin — Entire; not undulated.             Pubescence, texture and luster of adaxial surface —             Glabrous, smooth, and moderately glossy. Pubescence, texture             and luster of abaxial surface — Glabrous, smooth, and             moderately glossy. Color — Juvenile foliage, adaxial surface             — Green, nearest to in between RHS 137A and 143A. Juvenile             foliage, abaxial surface — Yellow-green, nearest to RHS             146B. Mature foliage, adaxial surface — In between green,             nearest to RHS NN137A, and yellow-green, nearest to RHS             147A, but darker. Mature foliage, abaxial surface —             Yellow-green, nearest to RHS 145C. Venation — Pattern —             Pinnate. Venation color, adaxial surface — Green, nearest to             a mixture of RHS 143B and 143C. Venation color, abaxial             surface — Yellow-green, nearest to RHS 145C.         -   Petiole.—Length — 1.2 cm. Width — 0.125 cm. Texture — Smooth             and glabrous. Luster — Slightly glossy. Strength — Somewhat             strong. Color, adaxial surface — Yellow-green, nearest to             RHS 144C. Color, abaxial surface — Yellow-green, nearest to             RHS 144C. -   Inflorescence:     -   -   Inflorescence arrangement.—Axillary raceme bearing 3 to 8             flowers.         -   Natural flowering season.—Long flowering period; spring             through autumn in USDA Hardiness Zones 10 through 12.         -   Time to flower.—Approximately 10 weeks from planting a             rooted cutting.         -   Dimensions.—14.2 cm high and 10.2 cm in diameter.         -   Quantity of flowers per inflorescence.—3 on average; varying             from 2 to 5.         -   Quantity of flowers per plant.—7.         -   Quantity of flower buds per plant.—28.         -   Quantity of flowers and flower buds per plant.—35.         -   Peduncle.—Dimensions — 7.5 cm long and 0.2 cm in diameter.             Aspect — Upward and outward; at approximately 30 degrees to             the lateral branch axis. Strength — Moderately strong.             Texture and luster — Glabrous and moderately glossy. Color —             Green, nearest to RHS 143B. -   Bud:     -   -   Shape.—Narrow oblanceolate.         -   Dimensions.—4.8 cm long and 0.8 cm in diameter.         -   Pubescence, texture and luster.—Glabrous, smooth and very             slightly glossy.         -   Color.—The distal one-quarter portion of the bud is             yellow-green, nearest to RHS 145D; the middle portion is a             darker shade of yellow-green, nearest to RHS 145C; and, the             proximal one-third portion of the bud is yellow-green,             nearest to RHS 145A. -   Flower:     -   -   Flowering habit.—Moderately free flowering.         -   Shape.—Funnelform.         -   Flower vertical height.—7.8 cm.         -   Flower width.—7.8 cm.         -   Flower length.—5.4 cm.         -   Attitude.—Flowers are outward facing.         -   Fragrance.—A faint pleasant fragrance; acidic-sweet.         -   Lastingness.—Approximately 10 days.         -   Persistent.—Self-cleaning.         -   Pedicels.—Dimensions — 2.6 cm long and 0.2 cm in diameter.             Aspect — Upward and outward; approximately 20 degrees to the             peduncle axis. Strength — Moderately strong. Texture and             luster — Glabrous, smooth, and moderately glossy. Color —             Yellow-green, nearest to RHS 144B.         -   Corolla throat.—Shape — In between cylindrical and conical.             Depth — 2.2 cm. Diameter — 1.3 cm. Texture — Glabrous;             smooth. Outer color — White, nearest to RHS NN155D, and             fading to yellow-green, proximally, nearest to RHS 150D.             Inner color — Yellow, nearest to a mixture of RHS 5C and 5D,             and fading to a darker shade of yellow towards the narrowest             part of the throat, nearest to RHS 7A. Venation color —             White, nearest to RHS 155D.         -   Corolla tube.—Shape — Near cylindrical. Depth — 2.0 cm.             Diameter — 0.45 cm, distally, where the tube begins to             widen. Texture — Glabrous; smooth. Outer color, when fully             opened — Yellow-green, nearest to a mixture of RHS 145A and             145B. No visible venation. Inner color, when fully opened —             Yellow-green, nearest to RHS 144C. No visible venation.         -   Petals.—Quantity of Petals — 5. Arrangement — Single whorl;             petals imbricate and fused into an elongated tube at the             base; lower 56 percent of the petals are fused. Shape of             petal lobes — Spatulate. Dimensions, free portion of petals             — 7.5 cm long and 3.2 cm wide. Apex — Unequal short             apiculate to rounded. Base — Truncate; fused at the base.             Margin — Entire; moderately to highly undulated. Aspect —             Moderately reflexed. Pubescence, texture and luster of upper             surface — Glabrous, velvety and very slightly glossy.             Pubescence, texture and luster of lower surface — Glabrous,             moderately velvety and slightly glossy. Petal lobe color             when opening, upper surface — Nearest to in between white             and green-white, RHS 155C and 157D. Petal lobe color when             opening, lower surface — White, nearest to RHS 155C, with a             green-white central longitudinal band, nearest to RHS 157D.             Petal lobe color when fully opened, upper surface — White,             nearest to RHS NN155D. No visible venation. Petal colors do             not fade. Petal lobe color when fully opened, lower surface             — White, nearest to RHS NN155D. No visible venation. Petal             colors do not fade.         -   Calyx.—Shape — Rotate; single whorl of sepals. Dimensions —             0.9 cm in diameter and 0.55 cm tall. Sepals — Arrangement —             Sepals are free, rotate. Quantity — 5. Shape — Narrow             triangular to lanceolate. Sepal dimensions — 0.8 cm long and             0.2 cm wide at the base. Apex — Narrow acuminate. Base —             Cuneate. Margin — Entire; not undulated. Pubescence, texture             and luster, upper surface — Smooth; glabrous; slightly             glossy. Pubescence, texture and luster, lower surface —             Smooth; glabrous; slightly glossy. Color when opening, upper             surface — Yellow-green, nearest to RHS 145A; apex is             greyed-red, nearest to RHS 179C. Color when opening, lower             surface — Yellow-green, nearest to RHS 145A; apex is             greyed-red, nearest to RHS 179C. Color when fully opened,             upper surface — Yellow-green, nearest to RHS 145B; apex is             greyed-red, nearest to RHS 179B. Color when fully opened,             lower surface — Yellow-green, nearest to RHS 145A; apex is             greyed-red, nearest to RHS 179B. -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Androecium.—Stamen quantity — 5. Attachment — Adnate.             Filament length — 0.3 cm. Filament color — Yellow-green,             nearest to RHS 150D. Anther attachment — Basifixed. Anther             shape — Narrow sagitate. Anther length — 0.8 cm. Anther             width — 0.125 cm. Anther color — Greyed-yellow, nearest to             RHS 162D yet lighter. Anther aspect — The five anthers are             touching at their apices, thus forming a cone of anthers.             Pollen, presence — Scarce. Pollen color — White, RHS 155A.         -   Gynoecium.—Pistil quantity — One. Pistil length — 2.1 cm.             Style length — 1.9 cm. Style color — Yellow-green, nearest             to RHS 145D. Stigma shape — Club-shaped. Stigma length —             0.2 cm. Stigma diameter — 0.2 cm. Stigma color —             Yellow-green, nearest to RHS 150D. Ovary color —             Yellow-green, nearest to RHS 144C. -   Seed and fruit: None observed.

COMPARISONS WITH THE PARENT PLANT

Plants of the new cultivar ‘PATMANWHI2’ differ from the seed parent, Mandevilla ‘Pearl’ (not patented), by the characteristics described in Table 1.

TABLE 1 Characteristic ‘PATMANWHI2’ ‘Pearl’ General coloration of White; does not fade to White; fades to yellow- the flowers. yellow-green when green when exposed to exposed to cooler cooler temperatures. temperatures. Flower size. Larger than ‘Pearl’. Smaller than ‘PATMANWHI2’.

COMPARISON WITH THE MOST SIMILAR MANDEVILLA CULTIVAR KNOWN TO THE INVENTOR

Plants of the new cultivar ‘PATMANWHI2’ differ from the commercial variety, Mandevilla ‘PATMANDEWI’ (Community Plant Variety Rights grant number 35007), in the following characteristics described in Table 2 below.

TABLE 2 Characteristic ‘PATMANWHI2’ ‘PATMANDEWI’ General coloration of White with a dark White, suffused with red- the flowers. yellow inner floral purple; yellow-orange tube. floral tube. Size of the flowers. Smaller than Larger than ‘PATMANDEWI’. ‘PATMANWHI2’. 

That which is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Mandevilla plant named ‘PATMANWHI2’, substantially as described and illustrated herein. 